The Hokes Archives is overseen by Professor Beauvais Lyons at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville School of Art within the UTK Print Workshop.
Established in 1901 by Everitt Ormsby Hokes, The Hokes Archives focuses on the creation and documentation of rare and unique cultural artifacts. Key components of the collection encompass the Aazudians and the Apasht, both of which have been central to major exhibitions curated by the archives. A less widely recognized segment of the collection involves the Arenot, who were featured in an exhibition in 1980. Director Beauvais Lyons, who oversees The Hokes Archives, is available for presentations and lectures on various subjects related to the collection. The archives also played a role in bringing “The Centaur Excavations at Volos” to the Hodges Library on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus.
The Archives’ recent undertaking includes a focus on the Association for Creative Zoology. On July 21, 2007, Beauvais Lyons presented a replica of a display originally showcased in 1925 during the trial of John Scopes in Dayton, Tennessee. Scopes faced charges for teaching the Theory of Evolution, which was against the Butler Amendment—a law recently implemented to prohibit the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools and universities. The exhibit advocates for divine creation through the concept of “zoomorphic juncture.”
Under the title “Hokes Medical Arts,” the Archives presents a compilation of 25 lithographs and color pencil drawings sourced from English, American, French, and German projects spanning from 1903 to 1931.
A notable expansion of the Hokes Archives includes The Spelvin Collection, recognized as one of the most significant assortments of contemporary folk art. This exhibition showcases the creative works of 11 artists, encompassing paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures. In addition to serving as a research hub, the Hokes Archives curates national traveling exhibitions to display selected pieces from the collection. Recently, a touring exhibition featuring the “George and Helen Spelvin Folk Art Collection” traversed the United States.